Screening for Lung Cancer

The purpose of screening is early diagnosis and treatment. Screening tests are usually administered to people without current symptoms, but who may be at high risk for certain diseases or conditions.

Screening Guidelines

The American Lung Association and American Cancer Society both suggest that if you meet the following criteria, you may want to consider screening:

You are a current or former smoker who quit within the last 15 years

You are 55-74 years old

You have a history of heavy smoking (such as one pack a day for 30 years, two packs a day for 15 years)

If you meet these criteria, a low-dose
CT scan
should be used for screening. A CT scan is a series of x-rays put together by a computer to create images of the lung. This test may be able to identify smaller tumors better than a
chest x-ray
can.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Lung cancer CT screening: is it right for me? American Lung Association website. Available at:
http://www.lung.org/lung-disease/lung-cancer/lung-cancer-screening-guidelines/lung-cancer-screening-for-patients.pdf
. Accessed May 10, 2012.